Silo top



Oct. 6, 1931. w. D. BAYLEY SILO TOP Filed June' 15. 1928 2 SheetsSheet l Oct. 6, 1931. I BAYLEY 1,826,378

SILO TOP Filed'Jdne 15. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 more. or less 'difiiculty l walls of the silo.

provide improved means for Patented Oct. 6, 19311 Um'rsa smras PATENT orries WILLIAM nQsAYLnY; or srnmrrenn, OHIO r SILO Application filed ll'une 15,

Y My invention relates to sil0s,and more particularly to the silo r001 and the method and means for assembling the parts of the roof "structure and attaching the roof to the side walls. Whether the walls of the silo structure be of wood, metal, concrete or tile the roof or top section is usually of sheet metal. Such sheet metal roof or top structure is ordinarily shipped knocked down or in separate sections to be assembled at the place of erection of the silo. Silo structures are frequently erected by farm labor unskilled in building construction practice and hence.

is sometimes encountered in securing proper registry ofbolt holes and alignmentof connections, he relative relation of which is necessarily predetermined.

Silo roof structures are ordinarily of the mansard type, including a truncated conical lowerv section and a conical cap of low altitude superposed thereon. The. present invention embodies an improved form of coupling between the cap portion and sub section of the top which will compensate tor inequalities and inaccuracies ofassembly, and to further supporting such roof structure upon the main body or side' to pro- It is a common and usualgpractice flanges upon the cap vide annular angle bar and sub sections of the roof structure which erection.

flanges have registering holes through which bolts are to be inserted upon erection of the structure. It is found that unskilled farm labor, who are unfamiliar with building construction frequentlyget such parts out of true, or. bent'more or lessinto ell iptical form so that'the flanges of the respective sections To overcome this diiiiculty there is provided in .the present in stance a hoop or ring'formed of round rod stock with compensating means by which the rod may be expanded or contracted to meet the requirement of the roof structure after Both of the root sections are pro vided with eyedstraps which encircle the hoop or coupling ring, and are slidingly adjustable thereon to compensate fonirregularities or necessary'relative adjustment of the roof parts. "The structure is supported seams by which successive se .Fig. 2 is a perspective interior TOP 1928. Serial No. 285,604. r

upon theside walls of the silo by rests or feet, located interiorly of the sub-section of the roof and formed from sheet metal, the margins of which are inserted in standing ctions of the roof structure are interconnected. Such'rests or feet are laterally flanged on their inner and bottom margins and reinforced by flanged sheetmetalsectionsweldedthereto. Suchconstruction afiordsa staunch stable connection of the roof structure parts one with another and with the silo walls, which will permit a limited range of variation in the assembly.

' The object of the invention is to simplify the structure, as well as the means and mode ofassembly of silo tops or roofs whereby they will not only be cheapene'd in construction, butv will be more efiicient in use, easily assembled, strong, durable, and unlikely to get out of repair.

I A further object of the invention is to provide a roof structure wherein the parts may be fixedly and securely coupled one to the other and which will permit a limited range of compensating adjustment in the assembly. g

A further'object of the invention is to provide an expansibl'e and contractiblo coupling hoop or ring and relatively adjustable connections between such ring and the respective roof sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved supportsor rests for the roofstructure by which it is connected to the sidewalls of the silo. I y

With. the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists to the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the bodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a pcrspective view of-the assembledsilotop or roof to which the present inventionvapplies.

view of a portion of such roof structure, thus illustrating the supporting and attachment features forming the subject matter of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the adjusting connections for the expansible and contractible coupling ring or hoop. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the coupling connection between the cap and sub sections of the roof structure. Fig. is a detail perspective view of one of the coupling straps. :Fig. 6 isa detailv view of one of the supporting seats or rests for the roof. Fig. 7 is a similar view cation of such foot or rest by which tl're top is adjustable to silo structures of ditlercnt .size. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one ,of the supporting feet from the roof structure.

.; View of the. reinforcement member for supporting foot.

.Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate modifications Fig. 9 is a detail the of. the roof anchoring means employing the adjustable. coupling rmg.

j' vLlke parts, are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the. several I views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the main structure or .side walls of the silo upon :.wl1ich is mounted the roof structure which section 2 and .acap portion 8.

comprising is of. they mansard type,

. The sub section v2 is oftruncated conicalform inclined inwardly but slightly from vertical lar.=rests or feet comprise. sections, otsheet. metal shown in provided with a dormer door ..,purposes. Both the sub section 2 andcap 3;

while the cap 3 is of conicalform of a very much lower altitude.

4- for filling are formed from sheet metal and consist of a succession of tapered detail inFigs. 6, .7. and 8, which are flanger along their innermargms as at '1. and on theirbase, margins as at o.v .-Th.e inclined margins of such rests orscats. 6. are: inserted zwithin the standing. scams 5 of the sub section of the roof, where they :are secured by the same bolts or rivets, employed to unite the successive gores: of the roof structure.

..The flanges ,and base flanges turned in a site to those of the supports or rests 7;and8 serve tosti'ffen such supporting rests or,,seats. However, to further strengthen and stiffen such rests triangular-flanged reinforcement plates 9 are attached to the rests or supports 6 by spot;

ates welding. These reinforcement disposedwith their lateral marginal flanges direction oppo withtheir base flanges registering witlithose ofthe supports. Th base flanges of the supports or rests 6 and their reinforcement plates 9 bear upon the top margin of the of aanoditior rests detached a sub The sub section 2 is.

gores. interconnec ted- 6 and .unusual. for the unskilled farm laborer to distort the sub section 2 out of true circular form so that the prelocated bolts or rivet holes ordinarily provided will not properly register with each other. To compensate for such distortion or inaccuracy of assembly there is provided in the present instance a compensating coupling connection. To this end there is provided an annular hoop or coupling ring 12 formed from round rod stock. For convenience of shipping and storing this ring is preferably, though not necessarily, formed in two or more sections to be interconnected with each other by an ordinary pipe coupling or any other suitable form of connection. This hoop or coupling ring 12 is further provided with an expansiblo and contractible coupling by which the ring may be adjusted to agree with the sub section 2 of the roof structure after erection. A; simple and economical form of adjustable coupling is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein there is shown a short length of pipe or tub- ,ing 13 welded or otherwise secured at 14: to

the end of the rods 12 comprising the coupling hoop or ring. The opposite end of the split hoop or ring 12, although screw-threaded as indicated at 15, is free for longitudinal sliding adjustment to and fro within the sleeve 18. A nut 16 screw-threaded upon such portion 15 by its adjustment serves to withdraw the threaded end of the rods 12 from the sleeve 13 thereby expanding the hoop or ring.v Upon reverse adjustment of the nut 16 the rod 12 is permitted to enter to greater extent within such sleeve, thereby permitting a zCODtl'ZlClTlOIl of such coupling ring or hoop. Secured to the cap 3 and also to the sub section 2 of the roof structure at spaced intervals are eyed straps 17, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5. These coupling straps 17 may be merely strips of sheet metal bent upon themselves to form loops or eyes 18 with their ends overlapping and having therein registering perforations 19 to receive attachment bolts 20. These straps 17 may beinitially secured to the roof sections 2.and 3 and the coupling ring 12 passed therethrough. However, a more convenient mode ofassembly is to string the straps 17 upon the coupling hoop or ring ,12, and subsequently attach such tie straps adjustment thereon to bringnthe'fholes 19- intogregistry. with the corresponding holes in the roof sections to receive the bolts 20.

'7 Obviously the ring 12 may be distorted out of Likewise, after assembly of-the roof sections true circular form to such degree to conform to. the erected shape of the sub section 2.

and their interconnection by such coupling ring the coupling ring may be expanded by adjustment of the nut 16 to aiford sunicient --tens1ontorender :the structure ri id and to take up any playand looseness and thus inin preventing rattleor clatter of the sections iii underinfluence of wind andsuch bracing or Stlfi6n111g,fi80t better enables the SllO top use of this coupling means makes the connection sufficiently flexible as to the location and registry of parts to easilyaccommodate the roof I structure to silo walls which vary through a considerable range of distortion from accurate circular formation. While several methods of assembly of the members .17 and ring 12 have been described, a quite practical and convenient method is to separate the arms of. the members 17 sufiiciently to permit them to be pushed over the ring or hoop 12 at the desired places where they may be brought into easy registry with the holes for the connecting bolts 20. 7

Instead of shifting the supporting feet 6 upon the roof structure to accommodatethe to withstand high wind pressure. The structure as a whole is rigid and durable and is capable of being easily and quickly assembled. By shifting the rests or seats 6 to different positions longitudinally of the standing scams 5 by registering their holes with different holes in the standing seams the top is readily applicable to'silo walls of different diameter. The sameeffect may be achieved by making the rests or seats of less length as shown in Fig. 7 and providing thereon a tally portion 21 to extend downwardly beyond the top ofthe silo wall to accommodate such foot or rest .to the same'bolts orrivet holes as are employed in Fig. 6 in adapting the top structure 'to a silo of greater diameter. By this means a few standardized sizes of top or roof structures can, be easily accommodated to a.

considerable range of diameters,

The roof j construction herein described is especially designed for use upon silo walls .of wood,'tile or concrete, but itmay also be applied to metal silo walls. The supporting feet 6 are employed when the silo is constructed of material other than sheetmetal.

While the brace wires 10 are shownin Fig. 2 connected to the supporting brackets or sheets it will be understood that they may be attached anywhere upon the roof structure and secured to bolts or anchor attachments in the top of the silo wall or to the hoop, or otherwise secured as may be found desirable or necessary, 'The elliptical condition above referred to is most likelytobe foundin the wall of thesilo construction rather than-in the lower. section of the roof. The difficulty encountered in attempting to lit a round roof to an elliptical silo wall is minimized by the present. construction which can be easily readily adapted to any reasonable degree of walledistortion. This adjustment is facilitated by the use, of the coupling hoop or ring which obviates the necessity of matching or registering bolt holes to maketheeconnection of the upper.- and lower roof sections. The

dated to throughout a considerable range than it would roofto silos of different diameter, as a practical alternative the manufacturerwill carry instock a limited number ofsuch feet or supporting brackets of different sizes .to meet the requirements of standard sizes of silos and can easily supply supporting brackets or feet 6 of SPEClEIl ClllllQIlSlOIlS to meet the requirements for odd sizes of silos. It is regarded as easier and commercially more practical to manufacture and carry in stock these comparatively small duplicate parts by which a standardsize top can be accommo- SllOS of difierent dimensions be to make the tops themselves special.

.VVhile the roof construction has been de scribed as comprising two sections interconnected-by means of the coupling ring or hoop 12 and attached tothe silo walls by brackets or feet 6, it is to be understood that the hoop or ring coupling employed for connecting the roof sectionsmay also be applied to connection of the roof structure with 'thesilo walls. Such a construction is shown in Fig.

10 wherein a hoop or ring 12? similar to the 7 ring 12 before described is located at the base of the roof structure and interconnectedwith the roof and'with the top of the silo walls 1 by spaced eyed straps 17 similar to the straps 17 before described. One lot of eyed straps 17' is secured to the side walls 1 of the silo structure by bolts 22 embedded therein while a second lot of eyed straps engaging the said coupling ring or hoop 12 is bolted to the sheet metal panel of the roof structure as before described. It is not necessary that the roof structure shall be of the double section or mansard type. This construction is equally applicable to a single pitch roof as is shownin Fi 11. for coupling the roof structure to the silo walls not. only affords secure anchorage, but as before mentioned, it permits the roof structure to be readily accommodated to silo The use of this ring 12 struction of the character described possess ill fore enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modrfi'catlon in its form, proportions and arrangement of parts,

without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages hile in order to comply with the statute the invention is described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A silo top of the'mansa-rd type comprising truncated conical subsection formed from sheet metal and havingstanding seams, and triangular foot rest members interposed in said seams at the lower interior portion of the section to support the roof section upon the side walls of the silo.

2. A silo top comprising a sub section and a ca section superposedthereon, said sub section being formed of a plurality of sheet metal gores united by standing seams, inwardly projecting vanes forming support ing feet for the structure fixedly secured within the standing seams and adapted to rest upon the side walls of the silo structure.

8. A silo top comprising a section formed of a plurality of sheet metal perpendicular seams, and supporting feet therefor comprising sections of sheet metal having their inner and bottom margins laterally flanged, and having their outer unflanged margins extended within the standing seams of the section and connected therewith in inwardly extending radial positions adjacent to the lower margin of the section.

l. A silo top comprising a section formed of a plurality of sheet metal gores united by perpendicular seams, and supporting feet therefor comprising inwardly projecting pieces of sheet metal having their outer marns projected within the standing seams of the section and reinforcement means attached to said pieces to stiffen them against lateral bending.

5. A. silo top of the mansard type comprising a cap and a sub-section, eye pieces secured to said cap and sub sect-ion, and an adjustable coupling ring having engagement with said eye-pieces and by its adjustment subjecting the roof portions to circumferen-..

tial tension independently of the tensioning of the walls of the silo structure.

6. The combination with a circular sheet metal silo top, of an eXpansible and contractible ring attached thereto, and means gores united by for adjusting the ring to tension the silo top independently of adjustment of the silo roof section, of an annular split ring located interiorly thereof and connected with the roof section, one end of the ring having therein a bore in which the other end is telescopically engaged, means for adjusting the relation of the telescopically engaged ends to expand the diameter of the ring and locking means for securing, the ends of the ring in their adjusted relation.

1.0. In a silo top, the combination with a roof section, of an annular split ring associated therewith, a sleeve forming one terminal of the split ring, the opposite end of the ring being screw-threaded and slidingly adjustable within the free end of said sleeve, a nut threaded upon said screw threaded end and abutting on the said free end of the sleeve to limit the entrance of said screw threaded end thereinto and means for locking the screw threaded end of the split ring and said sleeve in their adjusted position.

11. In a silo top, a sub-section and a cap section superposed thereon, an annular couplingring common to both sections, connections between the ring and the respective sections, said ring being expansihle and con tractible and means for expanding the ring to place said sections under'tension.

12. The combination with a substantially circular silo wall and a conical sheet metal roof structure, and a plurality of sheet metal and supporting feet comprising vertical sheet metal plates fixedly connected to the conical roof section adjacent to the periphery thereof, and resting upon the silo wall in radially disposed circumferentially spaced relation.

13. A silo comprising an enclosing wall. supporting a top of the mansard type including a truncated conical section and a cap section superposed upon the truncated section, and an eXpansiblc and contra ctible coupling ring common to said truncated conical and cap sections, the roof sections having sliding engagement with the ring relative to each other to compensate for variations of assembly. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of May, A. D. 1928.

IVILLIAM D. BAYLEY. 

